Single cell capture with polymer capture films

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, and articles for capturing single cells with a polymer capture film. In certain embodiments, the polymer capture films comprise a plurality of individual channels with top and bottom openings, where the channels are dimensioned such that a single cell is: i) is captured inside the channel, partially or substantially occluding the channel, when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; or ii) is captured by the top opening, but does not enter the channel, when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, the channels of the polymer capture film align with the wells of a multi-well chip such that the cell, or the contents of the single cell, may be transferred to a corresponding well.

The present application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.14/735,514 filed Jun. 10, 2015, which claims priority to U.S.Provisional application 62/011,267, filed Jun. 12, 2014 and U.S.Provisional application 62/086,044, filed Dec. 1, 2014, each of whichare herein incorporated by reference in their entireties.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, andarticles for capturing single cells with a polymer capture film. Incertain embodiments, the polymer capture films comprise a plurality ofindividual channels with top and bottom openings, where the channels aredimensioned such that a single cell is: i) is captured inside thechannel, partially or substantially occluding the channel, when negativepressure is provided to the bottom opening; or ii) is captured by thetop opening, but does not enter the channel, when negative pressure isprovided to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, the channels of thepolymer capture film align with the wells of a multi-well chip such thatthe cell, or the contents of the single cell, may be transferred to acorresponding well.

BACKGROUND

Geneticists are striving to characterize complex diseases like cancer,autoimmune and neurological disorders, but finding the underlyingmechanisms driving these diseases has been elusive. Somatic mutations,spontaneous variants that accumulate in cells over a lifetime, are amajor factor that drives disease onset and reoccurrence. As cellsaccumulate new mutations, they form polyclonal cell populations thatco-exist with normal cells. Sequencing bulk cell populations can maskthe underlying heterogeneity of these unique rare cell types, making itdifficult to distinguish them from normal germline mutations. The bestway to reveal these differences and visualize the clonal architecture isto sequence individual cells in the population. While single-cellsequencing can help uncover mechanisms of complex disease, traditionalapproaches are expensive, labor intensive, and require large sampleinput. What is needed are methods to isolate single cells that, forexample, are amenable for use with multi-well devices.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, andarticles for capturing single cells with a polymer capture film. Incertain embodiments, the polymer capture films comprise a plurality ofindividual channels with top and bottom openings, where the channels aredimensioned such that a single cell is: i) is captured inside thechannel, partially or substantially occluding the channel, when negativepressure is provided to the bottom opening; or ii) is captured by thetop opening, but does not enter the channel, when negative pressure isprovided to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, the channels of thepolymer capture film align with the wells of a multi-well chip such thatthe cell, or the contents of the single cell, may be transferred to acorresponding well.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides methods, systems,assemblies, and articles for capturing single cells by individualchannels or spots on a polymer film. In certain embodiments, the polymerfilms have a plurality of individual channels (e.g., in a multi-wellmatching pattern) that are able to capture single cells using particularsizes and negative pressure. In other embodiments, the polymer filmshave a plurality of individual hydrophilic spots (e.g., in a multi-wellmatching pattern) that are able to capture single cells. In certainembodiments, such polymer films, with captured single cells in amulti-well matching pattern, are mated with a multi-well plate ormulti-well chip with a matching well opening pattern such that thecaptured cells can be dispensed therein, allowing each well to receive asingle cell (e.g., which can then be lysed and the nucleic acidsequenced). In certain embodiments, a size-exclusion polymer film isemployed that is, for example, attached to (e.g., by double-sided PCRcompatible adhesive), and aligned with, a multi-well device. In someembodiments, multi-well through-devices are provided with cell-sized topopenings and larger bottom openings (e.g., configured to receivereaction components). In other embodiments, a multi-well device iscreated by attaching a PCR compatible film to the bottom of a multi-wellthrough-hole chip. In further embodiments, provided herein are capturechips with cell-sized dimples or wells (e.g., each containing a singlecell), which can be mated with a multi-well device with a plurality ofwells containing reagents that will detach and/or lysis the singlecells. The capture chips and multi-well devices can be mated such thatthe dimples of the chip and wells of the device are aligned, and thentreated such that reagents flow from the wells of the multi-well deviceto cells in the cell-sized dimples, and then treated again such that thetreated cells flow into the well of the multi-well device.

In some embodiments, provided herein are articles of manufacturecomprising a polymer film, wherein the polymer film comprises a topsurface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of individual channelsextending through the polymer film (e.g., arranged in a multi-welldevice pattern), wherein each of the individual channels: a) has a topopening in the top surface of the polymer film, b) has a bottom openingin the bottom surface of the polymer film, and c) is dimensioned suchthat one cell, and only the one cell, from a cell suspension: i) iscaptured inside the individual channel, partially or substantiallyoccluding the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided tothe bottom opening; or ii) is captured by the top opening, but does notenter the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided to thebottom opening. In particular embodiments, the top openings of theplurality of individual channels matches one-for-one, and aligns with,the well openings in a multi-well device (e.g., multi-well plate ormulti-well chip).

In particular embodiments, provided herein are systems or assembliescomprising: a) a polymer film comprising a top surface, a bottomsurface, and a plurality of individual channels extending through thepolymer film, wherein each of the individual channels: i) has a topopening in the top surface of the polymer film, ii) has a bottom openingin the bottom surface of the polymer film, and iii) is dimensioned suchthat one cell, and only the one cell, from a cell suspension: A) iscaptured inside the individual channel, partially or substantiallyoccluding the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided tothe bottom opening; or B) is captured by the top opening, but does notenter the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided to thebottom opening; and b) a porous layer comprising a porous material thatallows liquid, but not cells, to pass therethrough, wherein the porouslayer is dimensioned to be contacted with the bottom surface of thepolymer film such that the bottom opening of each of the plurality ofindividuals channels is covered by the porous material.

In further embodiments, provided herein are methods of isolating singlecells comprising: a) contacting a cell suspension with a cell-isolatingsystem, wherein the cell-isolating system comprises: i) a polymer filmcomprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality ofindividual channels extending through the polymer film, wherein each ofthe individual channels: A) has a top opening in the top surface of thepolymer film, B) has a bottom opening in the bottom surface of thepolymer film, and C) is dimensioned such that one cell, and only the onecell, from the cell suspension: 1) is captured inside the individualchannel, partially or substantially occluding the individual channel,when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; or 2) iscaptured by the top opening, but does not enter the individual channel,when negative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; ii) apneumatic device that provides the negative pressure, wherein thepneumatic device comprises an interface surface, and iii) a porous layercomprising a porous material that allows liquid, but not cells, to passtherethrough, wherein the porous layer is in contact with: A) the bottomsurface of the polymer film such that the bottom opening of each of theplurality of individuals channels is covered by the porous material; andB) the interface surface of the pneumatic device; b) incubating the cellsuspension with the cell-isolating system, wherein the pneumatic deviceprovides the negative pressure, such that each of the individualchannels in the polymer film captures one, and only one, cell from thecell suspension such that each individual channel has one captured cell;and c) washing the polymer film to remove non-captured cells from thecell suspension to generate a captured-cell polymer film.

In some embodiments, the methods further comprise bringing together thecaptured-cell polymer film and a multi-well device (e.g., multi-wellplate or multi-well chip) to generate an assembly, wherein themulti-well device has a plurality of well-openings, and wherein the topopenings of the plurality of individual channels of the captured-cellspolymer film matches one-for-one, and aligns with, the plurality of wellopenings in the multi-well device. In particular embodiments, themethods further comprise the step of treating the assembly such that theone captured cell for each of the individual channels, or partialcontents of the one captured cell for each of the individual channels,is transferred into the corresponding well openings of the multi-welldevice (e.g., multi-well plate or multi-well chip). In certainembodiments, the assembly is centrifuged to release the cells from thepolymer to the multi-well device, or the negative pressure is stopped,and/or positive pressure is employed to release the cells.

In certain embodiments, the captured cells are lysed while still on thepolymer, prior to being contacted with the multi-well device. In otherembodiments, the methods further comprise the step of adding reagents toeach of the well openings in the multi-well device such that the onecaptured cell, or contents of the one captured cell, are modified. Infurther embodiments, the reagents are selected from the group consistingof: a buffer, a lyse buffer, a polymerase, sequencing reagents,proteinase, and nucleotides. In particular embodiments, once a singlecell is in each of the plurality of wells in the multi-well device, auser or an automated system (e.g., from WAFERGEN) dispenses a cocktailof nickase and a polymerase (e.g., Pyrophage 3137 polymerase) and a lysebuffer. The wells are then treated at about 37 degrees C., then 95degrees C. to inactivate nickase, and isothermal amplification isperformed by using the polymerase. In certain embodiments, the cells arealternatively thermally lysed. Proteinase (e.g., Proteinase K) is thendispensed into the wells, incubated at 55 degrees C. (to digestpolymerase, such as pyrophage 3137), and the incubation at 95 degrees C.is conducted to inactivate the proteinase. Then, gene specific reactionscan be conducted in each well.

In additional embodiments, the top openings of the plurality ofindividual channels matches one-for-one, and aligns with, the wellopenings in a multi-well device. In further embodiments, the pluralityof individual channels comprises at least 50, at least 500, at least5000, or at least 50,000 individual channels (e.g., at least 50 . . .100 . . . 687 . . . 1000 . . . 5000 . . . 7500 . . . 13,000 . . . 33,000. . . or 50,000 individual channels). In certain embodiments, the wellopenings in the multi-well device each have a diameter of about 50 μm to900 μm (e.g., 50 . . . 100 . . . 300 . . . 500 . . . 700 . . . 900 um).

In some embodiments, the plurality of wells in the multi-well devicecomprises at least 50, at least 500, at least 5000, or at least 50,000individual wells (e.g., at least 50 . . . 100 . . . 687 . . . 1000 . . .5000 . . . 7500 . . . 13,000 . . . 33,000 . . . or 50,000 individualwells).

In further embodiments, the polymer film is composed of a hydrophobicpolymer. In certain embodiments, the hydrophobic polymer comprisespolyimide, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane, TEFLON and/or PTFE(e.g., that are about 20-30 μm thick, with 3-5 μm holes). In otherembodiments, the top surface of the polymer films comprises ahydrophobic coating. In particular embodiments, the hydrophobic coatingcomprises a material selected from the group consisting of: apolyacrylate (e.g., Poly(butyl acrylate), and Poly(methyl acrylate),Acrylonitrile Polymers and Copolymers (e.g., Polyacrylonitrile), MaleicAnhydride Copolymers (e.g., Poly(styrene-co-maleic anhydride)),Methacrylate Polymers (e.g., Poly(benzyl methacrylate) and Poly(butylmethacrylate)), Amides and Imides (e.g., nylon), Carbonates (e.g.,Poly(Bisphenol A carbonate)), Dienes (e.g., Polybutadiene), Esters(e.g., Poly(1,4-butylene succinate)), Ethers (e.g., Poly(propyleneglycol)), Fluorocarbons (e.g., Poly(tetrafluoroethylene)), fluorosilane,Olefins (e.g., Polyethylene), Styrenes (e.g., Polystyrene), VinylAcetals (e.g., Poly(vinyl butyral-co-vinyl alcohol-co-vinyl acetate)),Vinyl and Vinylidene Chlorides (e.g., Poly(vinyl chloride)), VinylEsters (e.g., Poly(vinyl acetate)), Vinyl Ethers and Ketones (e.g.,Poly(ethyl vinyl ether)), Vinylpyridine and Vinypyrrolidone Polymers(e.g., Poly(4-vinylpyridine)), HYDROFOE coating from Lotus Leaf, andACULON hydrophobic coatings.

In certain embodiments, the porous material is selected from the groupconsisting of: a rigid porous foam, ultra high molecular weightpolyethylene (UHMWPE), high density polyethylene (HDPE), low densitypolyethylene (LDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE),polypropylene (PP), ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), polystyrene (PS),epoxy glass, and phenol glass. In other embodiments, the porous materialis a material from GENPORE (Morgantown, RD), POREX (Fairburn, Ga.), orPERMAPLAS Corp. (Fayetteville, Ga.).

In additional embodiments, the top opening of each of the individualchannels is about 5 μm to about 80 μm in diameter (e.g., 5 . . . 15 . .. 25 . . . 45 . . . 65 . . . or about 80 um). In certain embodiments,the individual channels are laser-formed channels (e.g., using UV laserdrilled or CO2 or excimer laser drilled). In other embodiments,photolithography or plasma etching is used to generate the channels inthe polymer film. In certain embodiments, the polymer film is about 1square centimeter to about 16 square centimeters (e.g., 1 . . . 5 . . .10 . . . 13 . . . or 16 square centimeters).

In certain embodiments, the systems further comprise a multi-well device(e.g., multi-well plate or multi-well chip), wherein the top openings ofthe plurality of individual channels matches one-for-one, and alignswith, the well openings in the multi-well device. In other embodiments,the polymer film has a thickness between 25 μm and 2 mm (e.g., 25 μm . .. 75 μm . . . 500 μm . . . 1 mm . . . 2 mm). In other embodiments, eachof the plurality of individual channels is approximately cylindrical.

In some embodiments, the one cell for each of the individual channels isselected from the group consisting of: a platelet (about 2 μm diameter),a red blood cell (about 3 to 8 μm diameter), a neutrophil (about 8-10 μmdiameter), a lymphocyte (about 6-12 μm diameter), an exocrine cell(about 10 μm diameter), a fibroblast (about 10-15 μm diameter), anosteocyte (about 10-20 μm diameter), a chondrocyte or a liver cell(about 20 μm diameter), a goblet or ciliated cell (about 50 μm long and5-10 μm wide), a macrophage (about 20-80 μm diameter), a hematopoieticstem cell (about 30-40 μm diameter), an adipocyte filled with storedlipid (about 70-120 μm diameter), and a neuron (about 4-120 μmdiameter). In certain embodiments, the cells are prokaryotic oreukaryotic. In some embodiments, the cells are mammalian cells (e.g.,human cells).

In some embodiments, the systems further comprise c) a pneumatic devicethat provides the negative pressure, wherein the pneumatic devicecomprises an interface surface, and wherein the porous layer isdimensioned to be contacted with the interface surface of the pneumaticdevice. In other embodiments, the pneumatic device comprises a highprecision gauge that allows a determination if all or substantially allof the individual channels are partially or substantially occluded by acell. In other embodiments, the porous layer is contacted with thebottom surface of the polymer film and the interface surface of thepneumatic device. In particular embodiments, the pneumatic device isfurther configured to provide positive pressure sufficient to dislodgethe one cell from each of the individual channels. In other embodiments,the cell suspension comprises between 100 and 1×10¹³ cells (e.g., 100 .. . 1000 . . . 1×10⁶ . . . 1×10⁹ . . . 1×10¹² and 1×10¹³).

In certain embodiments, provided herein are articles of manufacturecomprising a polymer film, wherein the polymer film comprises a topsurface, wherein the top surface is mostly or completely hydrophobicexcept for a plurality of individual hydrophilic spots arranged in amulti-well pattern, wherein each of the individual hydrophilic spots issized such that one cell, and only the one cell, from a cell suspensionis captured by each of the individual hydrophilic spots, and wherein themulti-well pattern matches one-for-one, and aligns with, the pluralityof well openings in a multi-well device (e.g., multi-well plate ormulti-well chip). In particular embodiments, the hydrophilic spots arecomposed of polydopamine or similar material (see, Kang and Choi, Bull.Korean, Soc., 2013, 34(8):2525-2527, herein incorporated by reference).In other embodiments, the individual hydrophilic spots are 5-30 μm(e.g., about 5 . . . 15 . . . 25 . . . or about 30 μm) in diameter.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are systems comprising: a) amulti-well device (e.g., multi-well plate or multi-well chip), whereinthe multi-well device comprises a plurality of well openings, and b) apolymer film comprising a top surface,

wherein the top surface is hydrophobic except for a plurality ofindividual hydrophilic spots arranged in a multi-well pattern, whereineach of the individual hydrophilic spots is sized such that one cell,and only the one cell, from a cell suspension is captured by each of theindividual hydrophilic spots, and wherein the multi-well pattern matchesone-for-one, and aligns with, the plurality of well openings in themulti-well device.

In particular embodiments, provided herein are methods comprising: a)contacting a cell suspension with a cell-isolating polymer film, whereinthe cell-isolating polymer film comprises a top surface, wherein the topsurface is hydrophobic except for a plurality of individual hydrophilicspots arranged in a multi-well pattern, wherein each of the individualhydrophilic spots is sized such that one cell, and only the one cell,from a cell suspension is captured by each of the individual hydrophilicspots, and wherein the multi-well pattern matches one-for-one, andaligns with, the plurality of well openings in a multi-well device(e.g., multi-well plate or multi-well chip); b) incubating the cellsuspension with the cell-isolating polymer film such that each of theindividual hydrophilic spots captures one, and only one, cell from thecell suspension such that each of the individual spots has one capturedcell; and c) washing the cell-isolating polymer film to removenon-captured cells from the cell suspension to generate a captured-cellpolymer film.

In additional embodiments, the methods further comprise bringingtogether the captured-cell polymer film and the multi-well device (e.g.,multi-well plate or the multi-well chip) to generate an assembly,wherein the multi-well device has a plurality of well-openings, andwherein the individual hydrophilic spots (each with a captured cell) ofthe captured-cell polymer film matches one-for-one, and aligns with, theplurality of well openings in the multi-well device. In otherembodiments, the methods further comprise the step of treating theassembly such that the one captured cell for each of the individualhydrophilic spots, or partial contents of the one captured cell for eachof the individual hydrophilic spots, is transferred into thecorresponding well openings of the multi-well device (e.g., plate ormulti-well chip). For example, in certain embodiments, the assembly iscentrifuged to transfer the cells, or buffer conditions are changed toallow the cells to release from the hydrophilic spots. In particularembodiments, the cells are lysed on the polymer film prior to beingcontacted with the multi-well device. In some embodiments, the methodsfurther comprise the step of adding reagents to each of the wellopenings in the multi-well device such that the one captured cell, orcontents of the one captured cell, are modified. In other embodiments,the reagents are selected from the group consisting of: a buffer, a lysebuffer, a polymerase, sequencing reagents, proteinase, and nucleotides.

In some embodiments, provided herein are systems comprising: a) amulti-well through-hole chip with a top surface and a bottom surface;and b) PCR compatible film which is attached to, or attachable to, saidbottom surface of said multi-well through-hole chip to create amulti-well device with a plurality of wells, wherein said PCR compatiblefilm forms the bottom of each of said plurality of wells. In particularembodiments, the systems further comprise a size-exclusion polymer film,wherein said size-exclusion polymer film is attached to said top surfaceof said multi-well through-hole chip.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are systems comprising: a) amulti-well device comprising a plurality of well openings; b) a polymerfilm comprising a top surface; wherein said top surface is hydrophobicexcept for a plurality of individual hydrophilic spots arranged in amulti-well pattern, wherein each of said individual hydrophilic spots issized such that one cell, and only said one cell, from a cell suspensionis captured by each of said individual hydrophilic spots, and whereinsaid multi-well pattern matches one-for-one, and aligns with, saidplurality of well openings in said multi-well device; and c) doublesided PCR compatible adhesive, wherein said double-sided PCR compatibleadhesive bonds said polymer film to said multi-well device.

In particular embodiments, the multi-well device is formed from amulti-well through-hole chip combined with PCR compatible film, whereinsaid PCR compatible film is attached to the bottom of said multi-wellthrough-hole chip thereby creating a multi-well device with a pluralityof wells, wherein said PCR compatible film forms the bottom of each ofsaid plurality of wells.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are multi-well through chipscomprising: a substrate with a plurality of through-holes therein,wherein each through-hole has a top opening and a bottom opening,wherein said top opening has a diameter that is sized to receive only asingle cell, and wherein said bottom opening has a diameter that islarger than said top opening. In some embodiments, the diameter of thebottom opening is at least 10% larger than said top opening (e.g., 10% .. . 25% . . . 75% . . . 100% . . . 300% . . . 1000% or more). Inadditional embodiments, the substrate comprises silicon, quartz, glass,or any combination thereof. In further embodiments, the diameter of thetop opening is 2 and 50 um (e.g., 2 . . . 24 . . . 40 um or 2-10 um,2-20 um, 4-10; 10-25; and 25-50 um). In other embodiments, the diameterof said bottom opening is 100 to 800 um (e.g., 100 . . . 450 . . . 600 .. . or 800 um). In certain embodiments, the substrate has a thicknessfrom 0.5 mm to 3.0 mm (e.g., 0.5 . . . 1.0 . . . 2.0 . . . 2.6 . . . 3.0mm). In further embodiments, the substrate comprises a silicon waferbonded to a glass wafer. In some embodiments, the top openings are insaid silicon wafer and said bottom openings are in said glass wafer. Inadditional embodiments, the single cells are selected from the groupconsisting of: osteocyte, chondrocyte, nerve cell, epithelial cell,muscle cell, secretory cell, adipose cell, red blood cell, white bloodcell, platelet, and thrombocyte.

In some embodiments, provided herein are methods comprising: a)contacting the multi-well through chip described herein with a solutioncontaining cells, such that a single cell enters the top opening of atleast some of said plurality of through-holes; b) applying a cover tothe top openings of said at least some of said plurality ofthrough-holes to create a multi-well device with a plurality of wellseach containing a single cell, wherein the cover forms the bottom ofeach of said plurality of wells. In additional embodiments, the methodsfurther comprise: adding reagents to at least some of the plurality ofwells, wherein the reagents are useful for conducting a bio-chemicalreaction. In other embodiments, the reagents comprise an agent selectedfrom: a lysis buffer, PCR primers, polymerase, and combinations thereof.In additional embodiments, the cover comprises PCR compatible film.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are systems comprising: a) acapture chip comprising a substrate comprising a plurality of cell-sizeddimples or wells that each allow a single cell to be captured from acell mixture; and b) a multi-well chip device comprising a plurality ofwells, wherein said plurality of cell-sized dimples or wells matchesone-for-one, and aligns with, said plurality of wells in said multi-wellchip.

In particular embodiments, some or all of said cell-sized dimples orwell each contain a single cell. In some embodiments, some or all ofsaid plurality of wells in said multi-well chip contain reagents thatdetach and/or lysis cells. In additional embodiments, some or all ofsaid cell-sized dimples or well each contain a single cell. In furtherembodiments, the cell-sized dimples or wells are etched viaphotolithography.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are methods comprising: a)providing: i) a capture chip comprising a substrate comprising aplurality of cell-sized dimples or wells that each allow a single cellto be captured from a cell mixture, wherein each of said cell-sizeddimples or wells contains a single cell; and ii) a multi-well chipdevice comprising a plurality of wells, wherein said plurality ofcell-sized dimples or wells matches one-for-one, and aligns with, saidplurality of wells in said multi-well chip, wherein each of saidplurality of well contains reagents that detach and/or lyse cells; b)bringing together said capture chip and said multi-well chip to form amated-device such that said cell-sized dimples or wells of said capturechip are aligned with said wells of said multi-well device; c) agitatingsaid mated device such that said reagents in said wells of saidmulti-well device travel into said cell-sized dimples or wells,contacting said single cell to create a treated cell; and d) agitatingsaid mated device such that treated cell in each of said cell-sizeddimples or wells travels into the corresponding well of said multi-welldevice. In some embodiments, the agitating comprises providing acentrifugal force.

In particular embodiments, at least some of the plurality of wells inthe multi-well devices have a volume between 0.1 nanoliters and 500nanoliters (e.g., about 0.1 nl . . . 0.9 nl . . . 1.5 nl . . . 5.0 nl .. . 10 nl . . . 20 nl . . . 35 nl . . . 50 nl . . . 75 nl . . . 100 nl .. . 150 nl . . . 300 nl . . . 450 nl . . . 500 nl). In particularembodiments, at least some of the plurality of wells has a volumebetween 1.0 nanoliter and 250 nanoliters (e.g., 1-250 nl, 10-200 nl,25-150 nl, 40-100 nl, or 50-100 nl). In some embodiments, the pluralityof wells comprises at least 3 open wells (e.g., 3 . . . 10 . . . 100 . .. 350 . . . 500 . . . 750 . . . 1000 . . . 1500 . . . 3000 . . . 5000 .. . 7500 . . . 10,000 . . . 15,000 . . . 20,000 . . . 30,000 . . .45,000 or more open wells).

In additional embodiments, the multi-well device (e.g., chip) has alength of 10 mm to 200 mm (e.g., 10 mm . . . 50 mm . . . 100 mm . . .150 mm . . . or 200 mm), a width of 10 mm to 200 mm (e.g., 10 mm . . .50 mm . . . 100 mm . . . 150 mm . . . or 200 mm), and a thickness of 0.1mm to 10 centimeters (e.g., 0.1 mm . . . 1.0 mm . . . 10 mm . . . 10cm). In other embodiments, the substrate used for the multi-well devicecomprises a material selected from the group consisting of: glass,ceramics, metalloids, silicon, a silicate, silicon nitride, silicondioxide, quartz, gallium arsenide, a plastic, and an organic polymericmaterial. In additional embodiments, the multi-well device (e.g., chip)further comprises individually-controlled heating elements, each ofwhich is operably coupled to a well.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides articles ofmanufacture comprising: a polymer capture film, wherein the polymercapture film comprises a top surface, a bottom surface, and a pluralityof individual channels extending through the polymer capture film,wherein each of the individual channels: a) has a top opening in the topsurface of the polymer capture film, b) has a bottom opening in thebottom surface of the polymer capture film, and c) is dimensioned suchthat one cell (e.g., and only the one cell), from a cell suspension: i)is captured inside the individual channel, partially or substantiallyoccluding the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided tothe bottom opening; or ii) is captured by the top opening, but does notenter the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided to thebottom opening.

In certain embodiments, the polymer capture film comprises an inertand/or a hydrophobic polymer (e.g., polyimide, polyester, polyethylene,polyurethane, TEFLON and/or PTFE). In further embodiments, the articlefurther comprises at least one film guide component attached to, orintegral with, the polymer capture film (e.g., flaps or otherprotrusions with guide holes therein) wherein the film guide componentis configured to allow alignment of the plurality of individual channelsin the polymer capture film one-for-one with wells in a multi-welldevice and/or holes in a polymer film support plate. In otherembodiments, the top openings of the plurality of individual channelsmatches one-for-one, and aligns with, the well openings in a multi-welldevice (e.g., a SMARTCHIP from Wafergen Biosystems). In furtherembodiments, the plurality of individual channels comprises at least 10. . . 250 . . . 500 . . . 1000 . . . 5000 . . . or 30,000 individualchannels. In additional embodiments, each of the individual channels isdimensioned such that one cell (e.g., and only the one cell) from a cellsuspension is captured by the top opening, but does not enter theindividual channel, when negative pressure is provided to the bottomopening. In other embodiments, the polymer film has a thickness between10 μm and 50 μm (e.g., 10 . . . 20 . . . 40 . . . or 50 μm), and whereinthe top surface has an area between 1 cm² and 30 cm² (e.g., 1 . . . 20 .. . 25 . . . or 30 cm²). In additional embodiments, each of theindividual channels has a diameter of about 2-10 μm (e.g., 2 . . . 4 . .. 6 . . . 8 . . . 10 μm).

In certain embodiments, the present disclosure provides systemscomprising: a) a polymer capture film comprising a top surface, a bottomsurface, and a plurality of individual channels extending through thepolymer capture film, wherein each of the individual channels: i) has atop opening in the top surface of the polymer capture film, ii) has abottom opening in the bottom surface of the polymer capture film, andiii) is dimensioned such that one cell (e.g., and only the one cell)from a cell suspension: A) is captured inside the individual channel,partially or substantially occluding the individual channel, whennegative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; or B) is capturedby the top opening, but does not enter the individual channel, whennegative pressure is provided to the bottom opening; and b) a firstcomponent selected from the group consisting of: i) a porous layercomprising a porous material that allows liquid, but not cells, to passtherethrough, wherein the porous layer is dimensioned to be contactedwith the bottom surface of the polymer capture film such that the bottomopening of each of the plurality of individuals channels is covered bythe porous material; ii) a film support component comprising a substrate(e.g., metal, ceramic, silicon, aluminum, etc.) with a plurality ofindividual holes therethrough (e.g., which are larger in diameter thanthe channels in the polymer capture film) which align one-for-one withthe plurality of individual channels in the polymer capture film,wherein the film support component is dimensioned to be contacted with,and support, the bottom surface of the polymer capture film; iii) amulti-well chip comprising a plurality of individual wells (e.g.,microwells or nanowells), wherein the multi-well chip is dimensioned tobe contacted with the top surface of the polymer capture film such thatthe plurality of individual wells align one-for-one with the pluralityof individual channels in the polymer capture film; and iv) a cell(e.g., viable cell) that: A) is captured inside one of the individualchannels, or B) is captured by the top opening of one of the individualchannels.

In certain embodiments, the systems further comprise a housing base,wherein the housing base is configured to contain (e.g., provide abottom support for, and generally surround) the polymer capture film andcomprises at least one base feature selected from the group consistingof: a vacuum connection port (e.g., in the bottom of the housing base),at least two guide pins for aligning the polymer capture film and thefilm support component, a film support plate recess, a liquid reservoir,a gasket, and at least one connection rod for connection to a housingtop.

In particular embodiments, the systems further comprise a housing top,wherein the housing top is configured to connect to a housing base toenclose the polymer capture film and comprises at least one top featureselected from the group consisting of: an inlet port (to connect tosample delivery component to deliver cell suspensions and washsolutions), an outlet port (e.g., to connect to a diaphragm pump), aslot array (e.g., with a plurality of slots to guide liquid into thechannels of the polymer capture film), a guide pin receiver, and aconnection rod receiver.

In certain embodiments, the polymer capture film comprises an inertand/or hydrophobic polymer (e.g., polyimide, polyester, polyethylene,polyurethane, TEFLON PTFE, or combinations of any two, any three, anyfour, any five, or any six of such polymers). In particular embodiments,the polymer capture film is about 20-30 μm thick, with 3-5 μm holes. Infurther embodiments, the polymer capture film further comprises at leastone film guide component attached to, or integral with, the polymercapture film, wherein the film guide component is configured to allowalignment of the plurality of individual channels in the polymer capturefilm one-for-one with the wells in the multi-well device and/or theholes in the polymer film support plate. In other embodiments, the topopenings of the plurality of individual channels matches one-for-one,and aligns with, the well openings in the multi-well device and/or theholes in the polymer film support plate. In additional embodiments, thepolymer capture film has at least one of the properties selected fromthe group consisting of: i) the plurality of individual channelscomprises at least 5 . . . 100 . . . 500 . . . 30,000 individualchannels, ii) each of the individual channels is dimensioned such thatone cell, and only the one cell, from a cell suspension is captured bythe top opening, but does not enter the individual channel, whennegative pressure is provided to the bottom opening, iii) has athickness between 10 μm and 50 μm, iv) the top surface has an areabetween 1 cm² and 30 cm²; and iv) each of the individual channels has adiameter of about 2-120 μm.

In some embodiments, the cell is selected from the group consisting of:a platelet (about 2 μm diameter), a red blood cell (about 3 to 8 μmdiameter), a neutrophil (about 8-10 μm diameter), a lymphocyte (about6-12 μm diameter), an exocrine cell (about 10 μm diameter), a fibroblast(about 10-15 μm diameter), an osteocyte (about 10-20 μm diameter), achondrocyte or a liver cell (about 20 μm diameter), a goblet or ciliatedcell (about 50 μm long and 5-10 μm wide), a macrophage (about 20-80 μmdiameter), a hematopoietic stem cell (about 30-40 μm diameter), anadipocyte filled with stored lipid (about 70-120 μm diameter), and aneuron (about 4-120 μm diameter). In other embodiments, the systemsfurther comprise a second component selected from the group consistingof: a vacuum pump that provides the negative pressure, a centrifugemotor configured to spin a housing base, a diaphragm pump, a chipalignment component, a swing arm attached to a swing arm support rod, asample delivery component, a user interface display, and at least onewaste container.

In some embodiments, the present disclosure provides methods ofisolating single cells comprising: a) contacting a cell suspension witha cell-isolating system, wherein the cell-isolating system comprises: i)a polymer capture film comprising a top surface, a bottom surface, and aplurality of individual channels extending through the polymer capturefilm, wherein each of the individual channels: A) has a top opening inthe top surface of the polymer capture film, B) has a bottom opening inthe bottom surface of the polymer capture film, and C) is dimensionedsuch that one cell, and only the one cell, from the cell suspension: 1)is captured inside the individual channel, partially or substantiallyoccluding the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided tothe bottom opening; or 2) is captured by the top opening, but does notenter the individual channel, when negative pressure is provided to thebottom opening; and ii) a pneumatic device that provides the negativepressure, and b) incubating the cell suspension with the cell-isolatingsystem, wherein the pneumatic device provides the negative pressure,such that at least some of the individual channels in the polymercaptures film captures one cell from the cell suspension such that atleast some of the plurality of individual channels has one capturedcell; and c) washing the polymer capture film to remove non-capturedcells to generate a captured-cell polymer film.

In other embodiments, the method further comprises bringing together thecaptured-cell polymer film and a multi-well device to generate anassembly, wherein the multi-well device has a plurality ofwell-openings, and wherein the top openings of the plurality ofindividual channels of the captured-cells polymer film matchesone-for-one, and aligns with, the plurality of well openings in themulti-well device. In certain embodiments, the cell isolating systemfurther comprises: i) a porous layer comprising a porous material thatallows liquid, but not cells, to pass therethrough, wherein the porouslayer is dimensioned to be contacted with the bottom surface of thepolymer capture film such that the bottom opening of each of theplurality of individuals channels is covered by the porous material; orii) a film support component comprising a substrate with a plurality ofindividual holes therethrough which align one-for-one with the pluralityof individual channels in the polymer capture film, wherein the filmsupport component is dimensioned to be contacted with, and support, thebottom surface of the polymer capture film.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1A shows an exemplary system or assembly of the present invention,including a polymer film (10) with a top surface (12) and plurality ofchannels (one channel is labeled with 14). The polymer film (10) issitting on a porous layer (20), which itself is sitting on a pneumaticdevice (30) that provides negative pressure (shown by down arrows) tothe bottom of the channels (14). A channel (14) is shown with a cell(40) inside that is substantially occluding the channel.

FIG. 1B shows an alternative exemplary embodiment and generally showsthe same components as FIG. 1A, except that channels (14) in the polymerfilm (10) are smaller than the cells (40) such that the cells arecaptured on the top surface (12) of the polymer film (10).

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary housing assembly (45) with an exemplaryattached sample delivery component (190). The housing assembly (45) hasa housing base (60) that has an interior top surface (120) which has twoguide pins (100) therein. The housing base (60) also has a liquidreservoir (80), a film support recess (70) and corresponding gasket(85), as well as a vacuum connection port (90) in the bottom of thereservoir (80). The housing base (60) also has a pair of connection rods(110) to connect the housing base (60) to the housing top (140). Housingtop (140) has an inlet port (150) and an outlet port (160). The inletport (150) connects to a sample delivery component (190), shown as asyringe in this figure. The housing top (140) has a slot array (180),and a pair of connection rod receivers (170), for connection to theconnection rods (110). The housing top (140) also has two guide pinreceivers (105). The exemplary housing assembly (45) also has a polymercapture film (10) that sits on a film support component (50). Thepolymer capture film (10) has a pair of film guide components (130),that each have a film guide pin receiver (135) for receiving the guidepins (100). The film support component (50) is configured to sit in thefilm support recess (70) such that the guide pins (100) insert into thefilm guide pin receivers (135), thereby aligning the plurality ofindividual cell capturing channels in the polymer film to align with theplurality of holes in the film support component (50).

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary housing base (60) with two guide pins (100),polymer capture film (10), and film guide components (130). FIG. 3Bshows an exemplary housing assembly (45) with a housing base (60) andhousing top (140). The housing top (140) is shown with an inlet port(150) and an outlet port (160).

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary cell capture instrument (200) with a housingassembly (45) and a swing arm (210) that has a drain port (220) designedto engage with the outlet port (160). The cell capture instrument alsohas a user interface display (240).

FIG. 5A shows an exemplary cell capture instrument (200) with a swingarm (210) having a swing arm sample delivery slot and a drain port(220). The exemplary cell capture instrument (200) also has a vacuumpump (280), first waste collection container (270), a diaphragm pump(260), and a second waste collection container (290).

FIG. 5B shows a slot array (180), with a plurality of slots, whichterminate in a pair of slot array headers (185).

FIG. 5C shows a close up perspective view of a slot array (180) with aplurality of headers (72 shown in this figure) that terminate in a slotarray header (185).

FIG. 6A shows an exemplary call capture instrument (200) with thehousing top (140) removed, revealing the polymer capture film (10).

FIG. 6B shows that centrifuge motor (250) below the housing base (60)containing the polymer capture film (10) on the film support component(50).

FIG. 7A shows a chip alignment component (310) placed down on the guidepins (100). A multi-well chip (320) is shown placed inside the chipalignment component (310), on top of the polymer capture film (10).

FIG. 7B shows a chip alignment component (310) on top of the housingbase (60), as well as a multi-well chip (320) above the polymer capturefilm (10).

FIG. 8 show a side view of the arrangement in FIG. 7B. In particular, amulti-well chip is shown being composed of a through-hole chip (370) anda first sealing film (340) that forms a bottom and generates a well(360) in the multi-well chip. The top surface of the multi-well chip isshown with double-sided adhesive film (350) that allows the multi-wellchip to attach to the polymer capture film (10) such that singe capturedcells (40) align with the wells (360) of the multi-well chip. Thepolymer capture film (10), shown with a capture cell (40), is seated ona film support component (50) inside a housing base (60) that has avacuum connection port (90).

FIG. 9A shows the cell capture instrument (200) with the swing arm (210)providing force down on the multi-well chip (320).

FIG. 9B shows a multi-well chip (320) component of a through-hole chip(370) coated with a first sealing film (340) to form the bottom of thechip. Below the multi-well chip (370) is a film support component (50)with the polymer capture film on top (10). A second sealing film (380)is shown below the film support component (50).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention provides methods, systems, assemblies, andarticles for capturing single cells with a polymer capture film. Incertain embodiments, the polymer capture films comprise a plurality ofindividual channels with top and bottom openings, where the channels aredimensioned such that a single cell is: i) is captured inside thechannel, partially or substantially occluding the channel, when negativepressure is provided to the bottom opening; or ii) is captured by thetop opening, but does not enter the channel, when negative pressure isprovided to the bottom opening. In some embodiments, the channels of thepolymer capture film align with the wells of a multi-well chip such thatthe cell, or the contents of the single cell, may be transferred to acorresponding well.

In certain embodiments, present invention provides methods, systems,assemblies, and articles for capturing single cells by individualchannels or spots on a polymer film. In certain embodiments, the polymerfilms have a plurality of individual channels (e.g., in a multi-wellmatching pattern) that are able to capture single cells using particularsizes and negative pressure. In other embodiments, the polymer filmshave a plurality of individual hydrophilic spots (e.g., in a multi-wellmatching pattern) that are able to capture single cells. In certainembodiments, such polymer films, with captured single cells in amulti-well matching pattern, are mated with a multi-well device with amatching well opening pattern such that the captured cells can bedispensed therein, allowing each well to receive a single cell (e.g.,which can then be lysed and the nucleic acid sequenced). In certainembodiments, a size-exclusion polymer film is employed that is, forexample, attached to (e.g., by double-sided PCR compatible adhesive),and aligned with, a multi-well device. In some embodiments, multi-wellthrough-devices are provided with cell-sized top openings and largerbottom openings (e.g., configured to receive reaction components). Inother embodiments, a multi-well device is created by attaching a PCRcompatible film to the bottom of a multi-well through-hole chip. Infurther embodiments, provided herein are capture chips with cell-sizeddimples or wells (e.g., each containing a single cell), which can bemated with a multi-well device with a plurality of wells containingreagents that will detach and/or lysis the single cells. The capturechips and multi-well devices can be mated such that the dimples of thechip and wells of the device are aligned, and then treated such thatreagents flow from the wells of the multi-well device to cells in thecell-sized dimples, and then treated again such that the treated cellsflow into the well of the multi-well device.

The multi-well devices employed in the present disclosure (e.g.,described in detail further below) may, in some embodiments, mayconstructed from a multi-well through-hole chip and PCR compatible film.A multi-well through-hole chip is, for example, the same as themulti-well devices described herein and known in the art (e.g., nano ormicro wells, with hundreds or thousands of wells), except the openingsfor the “wells” extend through the substrate, forming holes instead ofwells. A multi-well device may be formed from a multi-well through-holechip by covering at least some, or all, for the holes on one side of themulti-well through-hole chip with PCR compatible film (e.g., TempPlate®PCR sealing film; VWR PCR sealing film; LABNET heat sealing film;BRANDTECH SCIENTIFIC Sealing film; AXYGEN SCIENTIFIC PCR-SP SealingFilms; etc.).

In particular embodiments, the multi-well device provided herein (e.g.,including those made of PCR compatible film described above) areattached to the size exclusion polymer films described herein to form adevice with size exclusion and multi-well device properties. In certainembodiments, the size exclusion polymer film is attached to the top of amulti-well device with double sized PCR compatible adhesive (e.g., 3M9965 adhesive tape). In certain embodiments, once single cells arecaptured by the film and transferred to the wells of the multi-welldevice, lysis buffer is added to the wells (e.g., to start awhole-genome amplification or whole transcriptome amplification assayprotocol).

In certain embodiments, a multi-well through-hole chip is provided whichhas a plurality of through-holes, where each of the through holes has acell-sized opening on one side of the chip (e.g., 2-10 μm in diameter,or larger, depending on the size of the cells to be captured) and alarger reaction sized opening on the other side (e.g., 100-800 μm indiameter, or 400-500 μm in diameter). In some embodiments, chip has athickness of at least 0.5 mm (e.g., at least 0.5 . . . 1.0 . . . 1.5 . .. 2.0 mm, or more). In particular embodiments, the chip is composed(e.g., mostly or entirely) out of silicon, quartz, glass, or acombination of such materials). In particular embodiments, two materialsare bonded together (e.g., glass and silicon) to form the chip with thethrough-holes. In an exemplary embodiments a glass wafer (e.g., 500 umthick) (e.g., FORTRAN glass wafer) is bonded to a silicon wafer (e.g.,25 um thick) to form a bonded chip (e.g., that is about 525 um thick).Then, mask is aligned and patterned on the silicon side, and cell-sizedholes (e.g., 4 um) are etched into the silicon down to the underlyingglass layer. Then, a second mask is aligned on the glass side and largerreaction sized holes are etched in the glass, creating the multi-wellthrough hole chip, where the holes are different sizes at each end.

The multi-well through-hole chips described herein, with different sizedopenings on each side, are first be used to capture single cells in thecell-sized openings. The cell-sized openings are sealed by applying aPCR compatible film to the chip, thus creating a multi-well device,where single cells are captured at the bottom of the formed wells. Themulti-well device is then used as described herein by, for example,adding lysis and amplification reagents through the reaction sizedholes.

In certain embodiments, provided herein are capture-chips that contain aplurality of cell-sized spots or dimples (e.g., mini-wells) that eachallow a single cell to be captured from a cell mixture. In someembodiments, the cell-sized dimples are etched into a substrate (e.g.,composed of glass, silicon, quartz, or combination thereof). Inparticular embodiments, plasma etching is employed. An exemplaryprotocol is as follows. A substrate mask is placed on a substrate whichhas been coated with photoresist (e.g., Shipley 1818) and exposed tocreate the dimples. The photomask is manufactured by a direct laserwriter such as Heidelberg Instruments. Once the substrate has the etchedspots/dimples, a cell suspension is flowed over the etched chip (e.g.,in a flow cell), and single cells are captured in the spots/dimples. Theexcess cells are then washed off, and the capture-chip is aligned with amulti-well device as described herein, such that the dimples on thecapture chip align with the wells of the multi-well device. The wells ofthe multi-well device may be pre-filled with reagents, such as lysisand/or amplification reagents. The mated devices are then centrifuged(or otherwise agitated) such that the reagents in the multi-well devicetravel towards and contact the cell in the dimple (e.g., lysing orotherwise releasing the cell from any attachment to the dimple). Themated device is then centrifuged (or otherwise agitated in the oppositedirection) such that the cell (or lysed cell contents) travel theopposite way, into the wells of the multi-well device. The capture chipis then removed, and the multi-well device, with wells each containing asingle cell (or single cell contents) is treated in a biologicalreaction (e.g., in a PCR or similar reaction).

Another exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods of the presentinvention is as follows. A system of the present invention may becomposed of a hydrophobic or super hydrophobic (e.g., Fluorosilanecoated) polymer film stretched across an open frame and drilled by alaser or similar device. The diameter of the channels created and thethickness of the film is selected such that one single cell can becontained in each channel. The pitch of the channels or pattern will bematched to the pattern of holes on a multi-well device, such asWAFERGEN's 5184 SmartChip, that can be used to perform a single cellassay. This polymer film is backed by a rigid porous foam that isselected to have pores that may be hydrophilic or hydrophobic but willallow only the cell suspension buffer to pass through but block thecells itself. This sandwich is assembled into an assembly that enablesthe user to introduce a cell suspension while a source of negativepressure is applied behind the foam. This entire assembly may bepositioned on an agitator or gyrator to move the cell suspension on topof the polymer film to enable single cells to be captured by thenegative pressure inside each of the channels in the polymer film. Thesingle cells cannot pass through the foam only the suspension liquidwill pass through. The negative pressure may be monitored with a highprecision gauge to indicate when all the channels in the polymer filmhave been occluded by cells. Because the polymer film is hydrophobic orcoated with a superhydrophobic coating such as Fluorosilane, thesuspended cells will generally not attach itself singly or in clumps tothe surface. Once it is deemed that the cells have been captured, theexcess cell suspension may be flushed out with cell free buffer such asPBS to remove the excess cells while some level of negative pressure isapplied to keep the captured cells from flowing away. After the removalof excess cells and cell suspension buffer, there will be single cellscaptured on the film and then a multi-well device (e.g., SmartChip) maybe placed face down on the film and the assembly placed in a centrifugefixture to transfer the single cells individually into the multi-welldevice wells. The multi-device wells may have preloaded cell buffer tokeep the cells alive or could be preloaded with cell lysis buffer. Themulti-well device may can now be filled with various assay reagents by amulti-sample nano-dispenser for gene expression or sequencing.

Another exemplary embodiment of the systems and methods of the presentinvention is as follows. In particular, another method of isolation andcapture of cells may be accomplished on the surface of a polymer thathas channels drilled on pitch as a multi-well device (e.g., Smartchip)but sized such that a single cells can be captured but not go through.The capture of the cells may be accomplished by negative pressure whichis being imparted behind the porous foam. This method will not require apolymer film of the same thickness (as above) as the cells will becaptured on the surface instead of inside the channels of the film. Thismethod of surface capture will also enable efficient washing away of theexcess cells while the captured cell will be held in place on top of thechannel by negative pressure.

Another method of the transfer of the captured cells may be accomplishedby pushing off the captured cell from the polymer surface or the channelin the film by reversing the negative to positive pressure and using thecell suspension buffer liquid to wash the cell from the surface or thechannel into the wells of a multi-well device (e.g., SmartChip).

Another alternative exemplary embodiment is described as follows. Analternate method of isolation may be fabricated using a superhydrophobic surface (e.g., Fluorosilane) that will prevent cells fromsticking. The surface of this super hydrophobic may have small islandsof polydopamine or other hydrophilic material that would allow a cell toadhere to it. Thus a super hydrophobic surface with islands about thesize of the target cells could be part of a flow cell where the cells ofinterest suspended in a suspension buffer would flow over this surfaceand single cells would be captured on the “islands” of polydopamine orother hydrophilic material. The pattern and size of islands (or “spots)could be such that after the excess cells have been washed off amulti-well device such as a Smartchip could be placed face down using asimple pin alignment scheme such that each island of captured singlecell will be centered in one of the wells of the multi-well device(e.g., SMARTCHIP). Then using a centrifuge, each captured single cellcould be transferred into the wells of the multi-well device (e.g.,SMARTCHIP).

The size of the single cells one wishes to isolate will dictate the sizeof the channels or hydrophilic spots on the polymer that are employed.The channels in the polymer need to be at least slightly bigger than thedesired cells in order to capture the cells in the channel. If onewishes to capture the cells on the surface of the polymer with channels,the diameter of the channels should be at least slightly smaller thanthe target cells. In regard to the hydrophilic spots, these spots shouldbe about the size of the target cell. The size of most human cells fallwithin a size range of 2-120 microns. Platelets are ˜2 microns, redcells ˜3 microns×˜8 microns, neutrophils ˜8-10 microns, lymphocytes˜6-12 microns in size, exocrine cells ˜10 microns, fibroblasts 10-15microns, osteocytes ˜10-20 microns including processes, chondrocytes andliver cells ˜20 microns, goblet and ciliated cells ˜50 microns long and5-10 microns wide, macrophages at ˜20-80 microns, hematopoietic stemcells ˜30-40 microns, and adipocytes filled with stored lipid aretypically 70-120 microns in diameter (but may be up to five times largerin very obese people). Neurons vary enormously in size and shape, theirbodies ranging from 4-120 microns in diameter with axonal processesvarying between ˜0.1-20 microns in diameter and ranging in length from afew microns up to ˜1 meter; muscle cells (˜30% of all tissue cells) alsovary from 10-100 microns in diameter and may run up to ˜50 cm in length.

The present invention is not limited by the type of multi-well devices(e.g., plates or chips) employed or that the channels and spots on thepolymer are designed to mate with. In general, such devices have aplurality of wells that contain, or are dimensioned to contain, liquid(e.g., liquid that is trapped in the wells such that gravity alonecannot make the liquid flow out of the wells). One exemplary chip isWAFERGEN's 5184-well SMARTCHIP. Other exemplary chips are provided inU.S. Pat. Nos. 8,252,581; 7,833,709; and 7,547,556, all of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entireties including, forexample, for the teaching of chips, wells, thermocycling conditions, andassociated reagents used therein). Other exemplary chips include theOPENARRAY plates used in the QUANTSTUDIO real-time PCR system (AppliedBiosystems). Another exemplary multi-well device is a 96-well or384-well plate.

The overall size of the multi-well devices may vary and it can range,for example, from a few microns to a few centimeters in thickness, andfrom a few millimeters to 50 centimeters in width or length. Typically,the size of the entire device ranges from about 10 mm to about 200 mm inwidth and/or length, and about 1 mm to about 10 mm in thickness. In someembodiments, the chip is about 40 mm in width by 40 mm in length by 3 mmin thickness.

The total number of wells (e.g., nanowells) on the multi-well device mayvary depending on the particular application in which the subject chipsare to be employed. The density of the wells on the chip surface mayvary depending on the particular application. The density of wells, andthe size and volume of wells, may vary depending on the desiredapplication and such factors as, for example, the species of theorganism for which the methods of this invention are to be employed.

The present invention is not limited by the number of wells in themulti-well device. A large number of wells may be incorporated into adevice. In various embodiments, the total number of wells on the deviceis from about 100 to about 200,000, or from about 5000 to about 10,000.In other embodiments the device comprises smaller chips, each of whichcomprises about 5,000 to about 20,000 wells. For example, a square chipmay comprise 125 by 125 nanowells, with a diameter of 0.1 mm.

The wells (e.g., nanowells) in the multi-well devices may be fabricatedin any convenient size, shape or volume. The well may be about 100 μm toabout 1 mm in length, about 100 μm to about 1 mm in width, and about 100μm to about 1 mm in depth. In various embodiments, each nanowell has anaspect ratio (ratio of depth to width) of from about 1 to about 4. Inone embodiment, each nanowell has an aspect ratio of about 2. Thetransverse sectional area may be circular, elliptical, oval, conical,rectangular, triangular, polyhedral, or in any other shape. Thetransverse area at any given depth of the well may also vary in size andshape.

In certain embodiments, the wells have a volume of from about 0.1 nl toabout 1 μl. The nanowell typically has a volume of less than 1 μl,preferably less than 500 nl. The volume may be less than 200 nl, or lessthan 100 nl. In an embodiment, the volume of the nanowell is about 100nl. Where desired, the nanowell can be fabricated to increase thesurface area to volume ratio, thereby facilitating heat transfer throughthe unit, which can reduce the ramp time of a thermal cycle. The cavityof each well (e.g., nanowell) may take a variety of configurations. Forinstance, the cavity within a well may be divided by linear or curvedwalls to form separate but adjacent compartments, or by circular wallsto form inner and outer annular compartments.

A well of high inner surface to volume ratio may be coated withmaterials to reduce the possibility that the reactants contained thereinmay interact with the inner surfaces of the well if this is desired.Coating is particularly useful if the reagents are prone to interact oradhere to the inner surfaces undesirably. Depending on the properties ofthe reactants, hydrophobic or hydrophilic coatings may be selected. Avariety of appropriate coating materials are available in the art. Someof the materials may covalently adhere to the surface, others may attachto the surface via non-covalent interactions. Non-limiting examples ofcoating materials include silanization reagent such asdimethychlorosilane, dimethydichlorosilane, hexamethyldisilazane ortrimethylchlorosilane, polymaleimide, and siliconizing reagents such assilicon oxide, AQUASIL, and SURFASIL. Additional suitable coatingmaterials are blocking agents such as amino acids, or polymers includingbut not limited to polyvinylpyrrolidone, polyadenylic acid andpolymaleimide. Certain coating materials can be cross-linked to thesurface via heating, radiation, and by chemical reactions. Those skilledin the art will know of other suitable means for coating a nanowell of amulti-well device, or will be able to ascertain such, without undueexperimentation.

An exemplary multi-well device (e.g., chip) may have a thickness ofabout 0.625 mm, with a well have having dimensions of about 0.25 mm (250um) in length and width. The nanowell depth can be about 0.525 mm (525um), leaving about 0.1 mm of the chip beneath a given well. A nanowellopening can include any shape, such as round, square, rectangle or anyother desired geometric shape. By way of example, a nanowell can includea diameter or width of between about 100 μm and about 1 mm, a pitch orlength of between about 150 μm and about 1 mm and a depth of betweenabout 10 μm to about 1 mm. The cavity of each well make take a varietyof configurations. For instance, the cavity within a nanowell may bedivided by linear or curved walls to form separate but adjacentcompartments.

The wells (e.g., nanowells) of the multi-well device may be formedusing, for example, commonly known photolithography techniques. Thenanowells may be formed, for example, using a wet KOH etching technique,an anisotropic dry etching technique, mechanical drilling, injectionmolding and or thermo forming (e.g., hot embossing).

Reagents contained within the liquid in the multi-well device depend onthe reaction that is to be run with the single cell that is depositedinto each well. In an embodiment, the wells contain a reagent forconducting the nucleic acid amplification reaction. Reagents can bereagents for immunoassays, nucleic acid detection assays including butnot limited to nucleic acid amplification. Reagents can be in a drystate or a liquid state in a unit of the chip. In an embodiment, thewells contain at least one of the following reagents: a probe, apolymerase, and dNTPs. In another embodiment, the wells contain asolution comprising a probe, a primer and a polymerase. In variousembodiments, each well comprises (1) a primer for a polynucleotidetarget within said standard genome, and (2) a probe associated with saidprimer which emits a concentration dependent signal if the primer bindswith said target. In various embodiments, each well comprises a primerfor a polynucleotide target within a genome, and a probe associated withthe primer which emits a concentration dependent signal if the primerbinds with the target. In another embodiment, at least one well of thechip contains a solution that comprises a forward PCR primer, a reversePCR primer, and at least one FAM labeled MGB quenched PCR probe. In anembodiment, primer pairs are dispensed into a well and then dried, suchas by freezing. The user can then selectively dispense, such asnano-dispense, the sample, probe and/or polymerase.

In other embodiments of the invention, the wells may contain any of theabove solutions in a dried form. In this embodiment, this dried form maybe coated to the wells or be directed to the bottom of the well. Theuser can add a mixture of water and the captured cells to each of thewells before analysis. In this embodiment, the chip comprising the drieddown reaction mixture may be sealed with a liner, stored or shipped toanother location.

The multi-well devices, with a single cell in each well, may be used forgenotyping, gene expression, or other DNA assays preformed by PCR.Assays performed in the plate are not limited to DNA assays such asTAQMAN, TAQMAN Gold, SYBR gold, and SYBR green but also include otherassays such as receptor binding, enzyme, and other high throughputscreening assays. In some embodiments, a ROX labeled probe is used as aninternal standard.

Another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is presented inthe paragraphs below, describing the initial construction and use of ahousing assembly to capture single cells using a polymer capture film,as well as assembly of a multi-well chip for processing each capturedsingle cell (e.g., for sequencing the mRNA of each captured singlecell). This discussion is generally with reference to FIG. 2-9, whichare provided as exemplary embodiments only.

A multi-well chip can be generated by combining a through-hole chip andan adhesive sealing film to form the bottom of the wells in themulti-well chip. A through-hole chip may be generated by drilling aplurality of holes in a planar, relatively hard and relatively thinmaterial such as metal (e.g., aluminum), silicon, ceramic, and relatedmaterials. The thickness of the material depends on the desired depth ofeach well, and may be, in some embodiments, between 1.0 and 9.0 mm(e.g., 1.0 . . . 2.7 . . . 3.4 . . . 5.0 . . . 7 mm). Holes may bedrilled through this material using any number of suitable techniques,including mechanical drilling on a programmable high speed precisiondrilling machine (e.g., the Kern HSPC 25 drilling machine made by KernPrecision, Inc.). For example, a metal substrate (e.g., aluminum) may bemechanically drilled on a programmable high speed precision drillingmachine. Typically a 3D CAD design file such as STEP AP214 is convertedto the appropriate machine commands which then executes the drillpattern and depth using the correct diameter drill. The diameter of theholes drilled may vary depending the desired diameter of the finalwells. In some embodiments, the diameter of each hole drilled in thematerial is between 0.20 and 2.5 mm (e.g., 0.2 . . . 0.45 . . . 1.5 . .. 2.5 mm). The number of holes depends on the number of desired wells.In certain embodiments, the number of holes drilled is between 2 and30,000 (e.g., 2 . . . 15 . . . 50 . . . 96 . . . 386 . . . 1000 . . .3000 . . . 5184 . . . 15,000 . . . 30,000 holes). In particularembodiments, a grid of 72×72 is programmed into the drilling machine togenerate a through-hole chip with 5184 holes. In certain embodiments,the through-hole is then treated such that each channel (that willbecome a well) is coated with a hydrophobic coating (e.g., an example ofsuch a coating is a parylene conformal coating), to make the final wellsbio-compatible. Finally, a sealing film is added to one side of thethrough-hole chip to form the bottom of each well (e.g., using a lowtack sealing film).

A housing assembly containing the polymer capture film and relatedcomponents for isolating single cells (for use with a multi-well chip)can be created by the exemplary embodiments described below.

Three of the components inside the housing assembly (e.g., housingassembly shown in FIG. 2) are generated with holes that align with thewells of the multi-well chip. These three components include the doublesided adhesive, polymer capture film, and the film support plate (if afilm support plate is used instead of a porous layer as shown in FIG.1). The double sided adhesive (e.g., 3M 9965 pressure sensitiveadhesive), which may have two release layers and carrier in the middle(e.g., all made of polyester), is drilled (e.g., laser drilled) on thesame pitch as the through-hole chip. The holes that are drilled aregenerally smaller (e.g., 5-50% smaller) than the holes drilled in thecorresponding through-hole chip. In certain embodiments, the holesdrilled are between 0.10 mm and 4.0 mm (e.g., 0.1 . . . 0.350 . . . 2.0. . . and 4.0 mm). The drilling of the double sided adhesive may beaccomplished by using an Excimer laser (e.g., manufactured by PotomacPhotonics) that has a programmable X-Y table. Similar to the precisiondrill discussed above, a 3D CAD file is loaded to drill the holes on thesame pitch as the through hole chip.

The holes in the polymer capture film may be made in the same type ofmanner as for the double sided adhesive using a laser drill for example,using the same pitch as for the through hole pitch. The diameter of theholes created as such that single cells will be captured near the top,or inside, the holes (channels). Such holes depend on the type of cellthat is being isolated (e.g., single cell per channel). An exemplarysize range is from 2 to 35 microns (e.g., 2 . . . 4 . . . 25 . . . or 35microns). The film may be any type of suitable material, including apolymer that is inert and hydrophobic (e.g., polyimide film, such asKAPTON film from DuPont, polyester, polyethylene, polyurethane, TEFLONand/or PTFE; see also Vladkova, T. G. (2010) “Surface engineeredpolymeric biomaterials with improved biocontact properties.” Int. J.Polym. Sci., 2010, 1-22, herein incorporated by reference in itsentirety, particularly for the polymers discussed therein). Thethickness of the film, in certain embodiments, is between 10 um and 50um (e.g., 10 . . . 25 . . . 35 . . . and 50 um). In particularembodiments, the aspect ratio (diameter of hole vs. thickness ofpolymer) is about 5:1, 6:1, or 7:1.

The holes in the film support component, in certain embodiments, usingthe same type of methods, materials, and devices as the through-holechip (see above), using the same pitch as for the through-hole chip. Incertain embodiments, the diameter of the holes in the film supportcomponent is the same or similar to that of the through-hole chip (seeabove). For example, the film support component may have holes withdiameters of between 0.20 and 2.5 mm (e.g., 0.2 . . . 0.45 . . . 1.5 . .. 2.5 mm). The film support component may have a thickness similar tothe that of the though-hole chip, or may be thinner (e.g., about 0.9-1.1mm thick aluminum or other metal or material).

A slot array component (e.g., part 180 in FIGS. 2, 5A, and 5B) may befabricated with a plurality of slots (e.g., equal to the number of rowsof channels/holes in the polymer capture film), using the same pitch asthe holes in the polymer capture film. The slot array component is, incertain embodiments, sized based on the size of the polymer capturefilm, such that the slots can deliver cell-containing liquid to the topof the holes/channels in the polymer film. An exemplary size is 400 umwide×200 um deep. The slot array component can be manufactured byinjection mold fabrication and vapor polished. In certain embodiments,the slot array is made of a thermoplastic polymer (e.g., polycarbonate)or other type of plastic.

An exemplary housing assembly may be assembled with some or all of thecomponents shown in FIG. 2, and used to capture single cells on thepolymer capture film. FIG. 2 shows an exemplary housing assembly (45)with an exemplary attached sample delivery component (190). Other shapesfor the housing assembly may be employed besides the circular shapeshown in FIG. 2, and the square shape shown in FIG. 3. The housingassembly may be composed of any suitable material, including plastic.The sample delivery component (190) is shown as a syringe in FIG. 2, butmay be other devices that can mate with the inlet port (150), such as apipette or similar devices. The housing assembly (45) has a housing base(60) that has an interior top surface (120) which has two guide pins(100) thereon. The housing base (60) also has a liquid reservoir (80), afilm support recess (70) and corresponding gasket (85), as well as avacuum connection port (90) in the bottom of the reservoir (80). Thehousing base (60) also has a pair of connection rods (110) to connectthe housing base (60) to the housing top (140). Housing top (140) has aninlet port (150) and an outlet port (160). The inlet port (150) connectsto a sample delivery component (190), shown as a syringe in this figure.The housing top (140) has a slot array (180), and a pair of connectionrod receivers (170), for connection to the connection rods (110). Thehousing top (140) also has two guide pin receivers (105). The exemplaryhousing assembly (45) also has a polymer capture film (10) that sits ona film support component (50). The polymer capture film (10) has a pairof film guide components (130), that each have a film guide pin receiver(135) for receiving the guide pins (100). Such film guide components maybe flaps or other protrusions from the polymer capture film that have ahole or other attachment component. The film support component (50) isconfigured to sit in the film support recess (70) such that the guidepins (100) insert into the film guide pin receivers (135), therebyaligning the plurality of individual cell capturing channels in thepolymer film to align with the plurality of holes in the film supportcomponent (50). The polymer capture film is placed on top of the filmsupport component such that the holes in the polymer capture film (e.g.,4 um) line up on center with the 400 um holes of the film supportcomponent. In other embodiments, a porous layer (part 20 in FIG. 1) isused instead of the filmy support component.

FIG. 3A shows an exemplary housing base (60) with two guide pins (100),polymer capture film (10), and film guide components (130). In certainembodiments, the guide pins (100) are rods, or cones, or other usefulshape. FIG. 3B shows an exemplary housing assembly (45) with a housingbase (60) and housing top (140). The housing top (140) is shown with aninlet port (150) and an outlet port (160). The inlet port (150) isshaped and sized to accommodate the chosen sample delivery component(190).

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary cell capture instrument (200) with a housingassembly (45) and a swing arm (210) that has a drain port (220) designedto engage with the outlet port (160). The cell capture instrument alsohas a user interface display (240). In general, a user places thehousing assembly into the cell capture instrument and starts a softwareprogram in the instrument (e.g., a software program operably linked to aprocessor and the various components of the cell capture instrumentwhich controls the timing and functions of the various components).

FIG. 5A shows an exemplary cell capture instrument (200) with a swingarm (210) having a swing arm sample delivery slot and a drain port(220). The exemplary cell capture instrument (200) also has a vacuumpump (280) (operably linked to vacuum connection port 90), first wastecollection container (270) (e.g., for receiving liquid from connectionport 90), a diaphragm pump (260) (e.g., for moving liquid containingcells around in the housing assembly), and a second waste collectioncontainer (290) (e.g., serving as a vacuum trap for liquid). FIG. 5Bshows a slot array (180), with a plurality of slots, which terminate ina pair of slot array headers (185). FIG. 5C shows a close up perspectiveview of a slot array (180) with a plurality of headers (72 slots shownin this figure) that terminate in a slot array header (185). The slotarray header is operably connected to an inlet port (150) (e.g., a luerconnection). In certain embodiments, each slot in the slot array isdesigned to be directly over the array of holes in the polymer capturefilm. In certain embodiments, each slot terminates at both ends intoheader that is used to feed the slots or drain them. In general, thepurpose of the slots are to flow the cell suspension liquid directlyover each row of holes that are in the polymer capture film, which helpsensure that the cells are not generally flowing around in a randommanner. Therefore, in certain embodiments, due to this type of flowcontrol, the cell suspension can be moved back and forth by alternatingthe pressure between the inlet and the outlet ports (e.g., to increasethe capture efficiency).

Returning to FIG. 5A, a diaphragm vacuum pump (260) with a regulator isconnected via liquid trap to the outlet port (160). When the program isstarted, the swing arm moves over the housing assembly and clamps itdown. A 10 ml plastic syringe with a buffer (e.g., 3 ml of 1×PBS) isconnected to the inlet port. Vacuum pump (280) is activated to providenegative pressure (e.g., 12″ Hg negative pressure) to the bottom ofhousing assembly to move the liquid down from the syringe and pre-wetthe capture holes in the polymer capture film. The vacuum then stops,and another 10 ml syringe filled with a cell suspension (e.g., 2×10⁵cells) is connected to the inlet port. The diaphragm pump (260),connected to the outlet port (160), is activated while the cellssuspension is slowly injected into the inlet port (150). Cells arepulled through the housing assembly (guided by the slow array (180)),using the diaphragm pump at the outlet port side (e.g., using a vacuumset to 4″ Hg). The diaphragm pump stops, while the vacuum pump (280)maintains a vacuum (e.g., at 4″ hg) for capture of the cells by thepolymer capture film. At this point, at least some of the individualchannels/holes in the polymer capture film have a single cell in orcaptured atop the channel/hole (e.g., see FIG. 1). After about 3-10minutes (e.g., about 5 minutes), the syringe is removed, and then asyringe with buffer (e.g., 10 ml of 1×PBS) is introduced into the inletport and pulled through the assembly for an initial rinse.

FIG. 6A shows an exemplary call capture instrument (200) with thehousing top (140) removed, revealing the polymer capture film (10). FIG.6B shows that centrifuge motor (250) below the housing base (60)containing the polymer capture film (10) on the film support component(50). Next, with the capture cycle complete, with the vacuum for thepolymer capture film still on (e.g., at 4″ hg), the swing arm moves upand over to permit access to the housing assembly. The housing top (140)is then removed.

At this point, the housing base (with polymer capture film) iscentrifuged using the centrifuge motor (250) shown in FIG. 6 to removeany excess wash buffer. Buffer may be sprayed on the film to completerinse of excess cells. Centrifuging also allows the creation of a drysurface on the polymer capture film to have a dry surface for bondingthe multi-well chip to the polymer capture film.

Next, a chip alignment component (310) is placed on top of the polymercapture film using the chip alignment guide pin receivers (330) on thechip alignment component as shown in FIGS. 7A and 7B. A multi-well chip(320), with attach double-side adhesive film (350) (with holes formedtherein), is placed inside the chip alignment component (310), on top ofthe polymer capture film (10). The double sided adhesive bonds themulti-well chip to the polymer capture film, and seals each well fromits neighbor. FIG. 8 show a side view of the arrangement in FIG. 7. Inparticular, a multi-well chip is shown being composed of a through-holechip (370) and a first sealing film (340) that forms a bottom andgenerates a well (360) in the multi-well chip. The top surface of themulti-well chip is shown with double-sided adhesive film (350) thatallows the multi-well chip to attach to the polymer capture film (10)such that single captured cells (40) align with the wells (360) of themulti-well chip. The polymer capture film (10), shown with a capturecell (40), is seated on a film support component (50) inside a housingbase (60) that has a vacuum connection port (90).

Next, as shown in FIG. 9A, the swing arm (210) comes over and down toapply pressure to the multi-well chip to seal it with the polymercapture film. The swing arm then moves up and over to allow removal ofthe multi-well chip/polymer capture film assembly. This assembly is thenplaced upside down and the bottom of the polymer capture film is blotteddry and sealed with a second sealing film (380) (e.g., PCR sealingfilm). In certain embodiments, to this sealed assembly, hypotonic bufferis added and the assembly is frozen at −80 C for 30 min or overnight.This assembly may be thawed at room temperature and used for any type ofsingle cell analysis. The freeze and thaw procedure (e.g., in hypotonicsolution) breaks open the cells and allows the cell lysate to be insolution in the wells of the multi-well chip. The polymer film on thetop surface (e.g., a temporary sealing film) is then peeled off and thechip may be employed for any type of biological analysis. In otherembodiments, the captured single cells are released from the polymerfilm and/or lysed with denaturants such as guanidine and urea, or withan enzyme composition.

As a result of the processing, some, most, or all of the wells of themulti-well chip now have a cell lysate from a single cell in solution.Reagents for any suitable type of assay may be added to the wells of themulti-well chip (e.g., using a multi-well dispenser, such as the onefrom WAFERGEN BIOSYSTEMS). In certain embodiments, protein detectionassay components (e.g., anti-body based assays) are added to the wells.In other embodiments, SNP detection assay components are added to thewells. In other embodiments, nucleic acid sequencing assay componentsare added to the wells. In certain embodiments, nucleic acid sequenceassay components that employ barcoding for labelling individual mRNAmolecules, and/or for labeling for cell/well source (e.g., if wellspooled before sequencing analysis), and/or for labeling particularmulti-well chips (e.g., if wells from two or more multi-well chips arepooled prior to sequencing) are employed. Examples of such barcodingmethodologies and reagents are found in Pat. Pub. US2007/0020640, Pat.Pub. 2012/0010091, U.S. Pat. No. 8,835,358, U.S. Pat. No. 8,481,292, Qiuet al. (Plant. Physiol., 133, 475-481, 2003), Parameswaran et al.(Nucleic Acids Res. 2007 October; 35(19): e130), Craig et al. reference(Nat. Methods, 2008, October, 5(10):887-893), Bontoux et al. (Lab Chip,2008, 8:443-450), Esumi et al. (Neuro. Res., 2008, 60:439-451), Hug etal., J. Theor., Biol., 2003, 221:615-624), Sutcliffe et al. (PNAS,97(5):1976-1981; 2000), Hollas and Schuler (Lecture Notes in ComputerScience Volume 2812, 2003, pp 55-62), and WO201420127; all of which areherein incorporated by reference in their entireties, including forreaction conditions and reagents related to barcoding and sequencing ofnucleic acids.

In certain embodiments, the barcode tagging and sequencing methods ofWO2014201272 (“SCRB-seq” method) are employed. The necessary reagentsfor the SCRB-seq method (e.g., modified as necessary for small volumes)are added to the multi-chip wells, each containing a lysed single cells.Briefly, the SCRB-seq method amplifies an initial mRNA sample from asingle cell in multi-well plates (as described above), where each wellhas a single cell. Initial cDNA synthesis uses a first primer with: i)N6 for cell/well identification, ii) N10 for particular moleculeidentification, iii) a poly T stretch to bind mRNA, and iv) a regionthat creates a region where a second template-switching primer willhybridize. The second primer is a template switching primer with a polyG 3′ end, and 5′ end that has iso-bases. After cDNA amplification, thetagged cDNA single cell/well samples are pooled. Then full-length cDNAsynthesis occurs with two different primers, and full-length cDNA ispurified. Next, a NEXTERA sequencing library is prepared using an i7primer (adds one of 12 i7 tags to identify particular multi-well plates)and P5NEXTPT5 to add P5 tag for NEXTERA sequencing (P7 tag added toother end for NEXTERA). The library is purified on a gel, and thenNEXTERA sequencing occurs. As a non-liming example, with twelve i7 platetags, and 384 cell/well-specific barcodes, this allows total of 4,608single cell transciptomes to be done at once. This method allows forquantification of mRNA transcripts in single cells and allows users tocount the absolute number of transcript molecules/cell to remove anyvariables from normalization.

All publications and patents mentioned in the present application areherein incorporated by reference. Various modification and variation ofthe described methods and compositions of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spiritof the invention. Although the invention has been described inconnection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understoodthat the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to suchspecific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the describedmodes for carrying out the invention that are obvious to those skilledin the relevant fields are intended to be within the scope of thefollowing claims.

We claim:
 1. A method of isolating single cells comprising: a)contacting a cell suspension with a cell-isolating system, wherein saidcell-isolating system comprises: i) a polymer capture film comprising atop surface, a bottom surface, and a plurality of individual channelsextending through said polymer capture film, wherein each of saidindividual channels: A) has a top opening in said top surface of saidpolymer capture film, B) has a bottom opening in said bottom surface ofsaid polymer capture film, and C) is dimensioned such that one cell, andonly said one cell, from said cell suspension: 1) is captured insidesaid individual channel, partially or substantially occluding saidindividual channel, when negative pressure is provided to said bottomopening; or 2) is captured by said top opening, but does not enter saidindividual channel, when negative pressure is provided to said bottomopening; and ii) a pneumatic device that provides said negativepressure, and b) incubating said cell suspension with saidcell-isolating system, wherein said pneumatic device provides saidnegative pressure, such that at least some of said individual channelsin said polymer captures film captures one cell from said cellsuspension such that at least some of said plurality of individualchannels has one captured cell; and c) washing said polymer capture filmto remove non-captured cells to generate a captured-cell polymer film.2. The method of claim 1, further comprising bringing together saidcaptured-cell polymer film and a multi-well device to generate anassembly, wherein said multi-well device has a plurality ofwell-openings, and wherein said top openings of said plurality ofindividual channels of said captured-cells polymer film matchesone-for-one, and aligns with, said plurality of well openings in saidmulti-well device.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising treatingsaid assembly such that said one captured cell, or partial contents ofsaid one capture cell, for each of said some individual channels istransferred into the corresponding well opening of said multi-welldevice.
 4. The method of claim 3, further comprising adding reagents toeach of said corresponding well openings in the multi-well device suchthat said one captured cell, or contents of said one captured cell, aremodified.
 5. The method of claim 4, wherein said reagents are selectedfrom the group consisting of: a buffer, a lyse buffer, a polymerase,sequencing reagents, proteinase, and nucleotides.
 6. The method of claim4, further comprising sequencing nucleic acid from captured cell orcontents of said captured cell.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein saidcell isolating system further comprises a porous layer comprising aporous material that allows liquid, but not cells, to pass therethrough,wherein said porous layer is in contact with said bottom surface of saidpolymer capture film such that said bottom opening of each of saidplurality of individuals channels is covered by said porous material. 8.The method of claim 1, wherein said cell isolating system furthercomprises a film support component comprising a substrate with aplurality of individual holes therethrough which align one-for-one withsaid plurality of individual channels in said polymer capture film,wherein said film support component is in contact with, and supports,said bottom surface of said polymer capture film.
 9. The method of claim1, wherein said polymer capture film comprises an inert and/or ahydrophobic polymer.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising atleast one film guide component attached to, or integral with, saidpolymer capture film, wherein said film guide component allows alignmentof said plurality of individual channels in said polymer capture filmone-for-one with wells in a multi-well device and/or holes in a polymerfilm support plate.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein said top openingsof said plurality of individual channels matches one-for-one, and alignswith, the well openings in a multi-well device.
 12. The method of claim1, wherein said plurality of individual channels comprises at least 500individual channels.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein said polymerfilm has a thickness between 10 μm and 50 μm, and wherein said topsurface has an area between 1 cm² and 30 cm².
 14. The method of claim 1,wherein each of said individual channels has a diameter of about 2-6 μm.15. The method of claim 1, wherein said cell isolating system furthercomprises a film support component and a housing base, wherein saidhousing base contains said polymer capture film and said film supportcomponent.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein said housing basecomprises at least one base feature selected from the group consistingof: a vacuum connection port, at least two guide pins for aligning saidpolymer capture film and said film support component, a film supportplate recess, a liquid reservoir, a gasket, and at least one connectionrod for connection to a housing top.
 17. The method of claim 15, furthercomprising a housing top, wherein said housing top is connected to ahousing base to enclose said polymer capture film.
 18. The method ofclaim 17, wherein said housing top comprises at least one top featureselected from the group consisting of: an inlet port, an outlet port, aslot array, a guide pin receiver, and a connection rod receiver.
 19. Themethod of claim 15, wherein said cell isolating system further comprisesa component selected from the group consisting of: a vacuum pump thatprovides said negative pressure, a centrifuge motor configured to spinsaid housing base, a diaphragm pump, a chip alignment component, a swingarm attached to a swing arm support rod, a sample delivery component, auser interface display, and at least one waste container.
 20. The methodof claim 1, wherein said one captured cell is selected from the groupconsisting of: a platelet, a red blood cell, a neutrophil, a lymphocyte,a fibroblast, and a macrophage.